Howell — A gunman who was firing shots at motorists along 1-96 throughout the month of October has been charged with a rare terrorism felony, according to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.

Raulie W. Casteel, 43, is accused of shooting at 24 motorists on numerous occasions in the counties of Oakland, Livingston, Shiawassee and Ingham. Only one of the shootings resulted in a motorist being wounded. 

“This individual terrorized the state of Michigan for at least a month until he was caught,” said Joy Yearout, a spokesperson from the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. “He terrified motorists from Lansing to Detroit. People altered their routes, mothers told their children not to go to school.”

Casteel.

Casteel was also charged with assault with intent to murder, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and three other firearm charges. Casteel was arraigned on December 27th in Howell’s 53rd District Court and is being held at Livingston County on a $2 million bond.  The terrorist charge carries a penalty of up to life in prison.

A driver from a targeted car was able to describe the gunman, his vehicle and a partial license plate number from a Michigan State University vanity plate. After authorities had tracked down the suspect, a 9mm handgun was found at his home and a 9mm shell casing was discovered in the windshield wiper track of his 2009 Chevy Malibu, the vehicle he allegedly had used to fire shots from. 

Casteel will face further charges from the case involving the October 27th shooting of the only motorist who he has injured. In total he could be charged with over 60 counts of felony.